The Sea Urchin Embryo: A Model for Studying Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Human Diseases and for Testing Bioactive Compounds

Most of the current knowledge concerning fundamental genetic mechanisms, evolutionaryprocesses and development, cellular physiology, and pathogenesis comes from studiesof different animal model systems. Whereas mice, rats, and other small mammalsare generally thought of as the typical model systems used by researchers in biomedicalstudies, aquatic models including both freshwater and marine organisms have longproved to be essential for the study of basic biological processes. For over a century,biologists have used the sea urchin embryo as a prototype for the investigation of developmentalmechanisms that contribute to building the embryo body plan. Here we highlightthe contribution of the sea urchin embryo as a simple model for studying agingand age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the pathways and mechanismsinvolved in cell survival and death. Moreover, we point out the role of this embryonicsystem as a potent and affordable tool for learning about developmental effects and toxicityresponses to environmental contaminants and chemical compounds.